Honor Guard
Who are those men in tuxedos wearing colorful capes with swords and different colored ostrich plumes? These men are the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard. You may have seen them at civic and religious functions, an activity which has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus organization. Fourth degree honor guard members dress in the recognizable regalia which include sword and colorful capes and chapeaux. The colors worn while in full regalia are as follows:
- red cape, white chapeaux: Sir Knight
- purple cape, purple chapeaux: Assembly Commander
- white cape, white chapeaux: Faithful Navigator or Past Faithful Navigator
- green cape, green chapeaux: District Marshal
- gold cape, gold chapeaux: District Master or Former District Master
- blue cape, blue chapeaux Supreme Master or Vice Supreme Master
Once a Sir Knight attains an office, he is entitled to wear the colors of that office until elected or appointed to a higher office, except for the Marshal (appointed by the Master of District) and the Assembly Commanders (appointed by the Faithful Navigator) who are appointed for a specific term and then revert to their previous colors when that term expires. However, former VSMs, DMs, and PFNs are all permitted to wear their respective capes and chapeaux when they finish their term of office.
However, being part of the Honor Guard is not a requirement for a 4th Degree member. Many attain their 4th Degree and may wait years to join the Honor Guard.
